Don't overthink this. The property is still a rental until you sell it. Expenses still go on Sch E. If you get audited, the IRS isnt gonna care that it was vacant while u were trying to sell it. Happens all the time.

I went through this exact situation two years ago with a duplex that sat vacant for 5 months while trying to sell. What really helped me was creating a clear paper trail showing my intent to sell rather than abandon the property. I kept copies of all MLS listings, price reduction notices, showing feedback, and even rejection letters from potential buyers. When I filed my Schedule E with expenses but no rental income for those months, I included a brief statement explaining the vacancy was due to active marketing for sale. The IRS never questioned it, but having that documentation gave me peace of mind. Also, make sure you're only deducting expenses that you would have paid anyway as a rental property owner - don't try to deduct any costs specifically related to marketing the property for sale, as those should be treated as selling expenses when you calculate capital gains. One tip: if you're doing any repairs or improvements to help with the sale, be careful how you categorize those. Minor repairs to maintain the property can still go on Schedule E, but major improvements to increase sale value should be added to your basis.

Based on your description, you're definitely being misclassified as an independent contractor when you should be treated as an employee. The IRS looks at three main factors: behavioral control (your brother sets your schedule and assigns tasks), financial control (he provides tools and equipment), and the type of relationship (sounds like an ongoing employment arrangement rather than a project-based contract). As a misclassified 1099 contractor, you'd end up paying an extra 7.65% in self-employment taxes compared to being a W-2 employee, plus you'd have to deal with quarterly estimated payments. That's a significant financial burden, especially when you're only working part-time. I'd recommend having an honest but diplomatic conversation with your brother soon. Frame it as wanting to make sure you're both following IRS rules correctly rather than accusing him of doing anything wrong. Many small business owners misclassify workers without realizing the rules or the potential penalties they face (which can include back taxes, interest, and fines). The IRS Publication 15-A has a good section on worker classification that you could reference. Emphasize that proper classification protects both of you - him from potential IRS penalties and you from overpaying taxes. Since he's family, he'll probably want to do right by you once he understands the implications. Better to sort this out now than deal with problems later!

I had a very similar experience with my dad's auto repair shop. He was classifying me as a 1099 contractor even though I worked set hours (7 AM - 4 PM), used all his tools and equipment, and followed his specific procedures for everything from customer service to repair protocols. The IRS three-factor test made it clear I was an employee: he controlled my behavior (when and how I worked), the financial aspects (provided all tools, set my pay rate), and our relationship was clearly employer-employee rather than business-to-business. What helped me approach the conversation was focusing on the mutual benefits of proper classification. I explained that misclassification could expose his business to penalties of thousands of dollars if audited, while costing me hundreds extra in self-employment taxes that I shouldn't have to pay. I brought him a copy of IRS Form SS-8 (which you can file to get an official determination) and Publication 15-A, and said "I want to make sure we're protected and doing this right." He appreciated that I wasn't being confrontational and actually thanked me for bringing it to his attention. The switch to W-2 employee status saved me about $1,200 in taxes last year and eliminated the stress of quarterly payments. Plus, I now have proper worker protections and unemployment insurance eligibility. Don't let the family relationship stop you from protecting yourself financially - approach it as wanting to do things correctly for both your sakes.

I've been following this thread because I had the exact same problem with H&R Block's import feature! After trying all the suggestions here (checking for faint printing, looking in weird corners of the W-2, trying various workarounds like "0000" and "NONE"), I finally discovered something that might help others. I called H&R Block's customer support directly about this issue, and the rep told me that their system has been having compatibility problems with certain payroll providers this tax season. She said if the electronic import keeps failing on the box d requirement, there's actually a "skip electronic import" option hidden in the settings menu that lets you bypass the whole process. To find it: go to Settings > Import Options > and look for "Manual Entry Mode" - checking that box will disable the electronic import prompts and let you enter your W-2 information the old-fashioned way. Takes maybe 10 minutes tops and you don't have to deal with any of these mysterious box d issues. Really wish H&R Block would make this option more obvious since so many people seem to run into import problems every year. Sometimes the manual approach really is more reliable than the "convenient" automated features!

I just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to this thread! I was pulling my hair out over this exact same box d issue with H&R Block yesterday. After reading through all these responses, I tried the suggestion about taking a photo of my W-2 with my phone and zooming in - and there it was! My control number was printed in such light gray text that I couldn't see it with my naked eye, but it showed up clearly on my phone screen. For anyone still struggling: the control number really can be in the most unexpected places. Mine was tucked between my employer's address and the "Wage and Tax Statement" heading in tiny, barely visible text. If you still can't find it after trying all the suggestions here (bright light, phone camera, magnifying glass), definitely try entering "0000" or "NONE" as workarounds, or just switch to manual entry mode like Amina mentioned. This community is amazing - saved me from hours more frustration and probably a few phone calls to customer support!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - losing your job is stressful enough without the shock of seeing such a huge chunk of your severance go to taxes. What you're experiencing is unfortunately very common with severance payments, but there's definitely light at the end of the tunnel. That nearly 50% withholding rate is a clear sign your employer used the "aggregate method" instead of the flat supplemental wage rate. Basically, they treated your $37k severance as if you earn that amount every single pay period for the entire year, which pushes the withholding calculation way up into higher tax brackets temporarily. Your actual tax liability will be based on your real total annual income, which will likely be much lower. Here's what I'd recommend doing right now: **File for unemployment benefits immediately** if you haven't already - the process can take weeks and you don't want to miss out on that income while waiting. **Contact your former employer's payroll department** to get an exact breakdown of what was withheld (federal, state, FICA, etc.). This will help you estimate your potential refund and give you proper documentation for tax time. **Keep all your severance paperwork organized** - you'll need everything when filing to make sure you get credit for all those withholdings. **Plan to file your taxes early next year** (late January/February) to get your refund as quickly as possible while you're job searching. Based on your numbers, you're probably looking at a refund of $5,000+ just from the severance overwithholding alone. I know that doesn't help your cash flow right now, but try to think of it as forced savings that you'll get back when you file. It's incredibly frustrating in the moment, but that money is definitely coming back to you. Hang in there during the job search - this financial pressure on top of unemployment is really tough, but you should see most of that overwithholding returned to you next year. You've got this!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - losing your job and then seeing such a massive tax hit on your severance is incredibly stressful and frustrating. What you're experiencing is unfortunately very common, but I wanted to share some perspective that might help ease your concerns. That nearly 50% withholding rate is a telltale sign that your employer used the "aggregate method" for calculating taxes on your severance. Instead of using the standard 22% flat rate for supplemental wages, they essentially treated your $37k severance as if you earn that amount every single pay period throughout the year, which pushes the withholding calculation into much higher tax brackets temporarily. Here's the crucial thing to understand: your actual tax liability when you file will be based on your real total annual income for the year, not these inflated withholding rates. Since you were laid off and your annual income will likely be significantly lower than what the payroll system projected, you should get a substantial refund. My immediate recommendations: - **File for unemployment benefits right now** if you haven't already - don't wait as the process can take weeks - **Call your former employer's payroll department** for an exact breakdown of federal, state, FICA, and other withholdings - **Keep all severance documentation organized** for tax time - **Plan to file taxes early next year** (late January) to get your refund ASAP while job searching Based on your numbers, you could potentially see a $5,000-7,000+ refund from the severance overwithholding alone. Think of this as forced savings that's coming back to you - incredibly frustrating now, but that money will be there when you need it most during your job search. Hang in there - you've got this, and this community is here to support you through this challenging time!

I work at a bank and see this confusion ALL THE TIME. Here's the simple version: one-time payments between family members are almost never taxable to the recipient. The $10,000 reporting threshold some people mention is for CASH transactions and bank reporting requirements, not for taxation purposes, and it doesn't apply to Venmo anyway. The $600 reporting threshold is for BUSINESS transactions on payment apps. From what you described, your $2000 is clearly a personal payment and not something you'd need to report as income. Just make sure your cousin doesn't label it as "car repair services" or something business-sounding in the description.

Great question! Based on what you've described, you shouldn't have to worry about taxes on this $2000 payment. Since this is a one-time payment from your cousin for helping with his truck repair, it would likely be classified as either a gift or personal reimbursement rather than taxable income. The IRS distinguishes between casual help among family members and running an actual business - you're clearly in the former category. The key factors working in your favor are: it's a family member, it's a one-time occurrence, you're not in the business of car repair, and it's essentially compensation for your time and parts you purchased. Even though $2000 is a substantial amount, the nature of the payment matters more than the dollar amount for tax purposes. Just make sure your cousin sends it as a personal payment (friends/family option) rather than marking it as goods and services. Keep a simple record of what the payment was for in case you ever need to explain it later, but this definitely doesn't sound like something you'd need to report as income on your tax return.